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High school senior, Mitch Houser, is thrilled to have multiple colleges recruiting him because of his record-breaking times on the track, but Mitch hasn’t told anyone the real reason he’s been setting records.

He’s trying to outrun his girl problems.

He really hits it hard when Holly Isaacson, the girl next door and his best friend for a decade, becomes buddy-buddy with Jade Montgomery, who is Mitch’s latest crush. He wants to move Jade from a girl he invites to eat dinner with his family to a girl he takes out to dinner—and maybe kisses afterward.

So Mitch runs, and he runs fast. Things progress with Jade at the same rate they fall apart with Holly. Most days, Mitch can’t change into his running clothes fast enough. But running from his problems isn’t a good solution, and Mitch will have to face both Jade and Holly—and decide which one of them to put into the “just friends” category.

​A girl who's lost herself and the boy who's always known how to find her.

When seventeen-year-old Eden Scotson skis to the bottom of a mountain on a routine trip with her older brother's best friend, Grayson Young, they find the lift non-operational and the biggest storm of the season upon them.

Unable to stay in the tiny hut, they decide to make the climb back to the luxury condos at the top. Along the way, they have to battle the danger of an avalanche, the elements of wind and snow, and their feelings for each other. As Grayson deals privately with his mother's alcoholism and an absent father, Eden's grief over her father's death nine years earlier is a little more public.

Compared to dealing with the complexities of friendship and more-than-friendship, overcoming grief, and learning how to forgive old wounds, physically climbing the mountain will be the easiest part of the journey for both Eden and Grayson.

​About the Author
A speculative fiction author and USA Today bestseller under the name Elana Johnson and an inspirational adult romance author under the pen name of Liz Isaacson, her work includes the young adult dystopian romance series Possession, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), Elevated, the Elemental series, the Songs of Life fantasy series, the Redwood Bay romance series, and the #1 bestselling Three Rivers Ranch Romance series.

Gwen has returned to Neverland with Peter Pan and the lost children, but this time, the adults are following close behind.

The Anomalous Activity Department has plans to finally conquer Neverland by bringing the final battle to the vulnerable island. The children will have to rally fairies, mermaids, and allies from other magical realms to stand a chance against the shadow-casting army of grown-ups heading for them.

The black-coat soldiers are far from their only problem. Lasiandra is missing. No one has seen her since Gwen left her at the lakeside with Jay, and the mermaids searching have found only grave omens in the stars. With the island on the cusp of a war that threatens to strip the land of its magic, the last thing Peter and Gwen need is the ancient flagship that appears on their horizon, sailing pirates straight for their shores.

When the battle begins amid old and new enemies, Gwen’s maturity will be a double-edged sword. She will either grow stronger or grow up… maybe both.

Gwen gathered fruit as fast as she could in the dim of the early morning. Mangos and marionberries, peaches and papayas, star fruit and oranges… she shoved the land fruit into her bag, never breaking pace as she trekked weast across the island. She needed to get to the coast and back before any fairies awoke. The entire fairy population had indulged in joyful revelries the night before, celebrating some amorphous holiday unknown to humans. The dawn would find even the most temperate fairies still lolling in drunken dreams and merry slumber. But dawn had not yet arrived and not everyone slept; stars still speckled the bluing sky and certain inhabitants of Neverland were still speaking with them.

Tromping over vines and fungi, Gwen bushwhacked her way through the forest-jungle on anxious feet. The mermaids had not been helpful as of late.

The new mermaids she’d met wouldn’t even give her their names. Eglantine and Cynara had been snide at best, and contemptuous at worst. Gwen wouldn’t have minded it—she didn’t care what mermaids thought of her—but she felt certain they knew what had happened to Lasiandra and refused to explain. This drowsy morning offered her a chance to tempt them with an overabundance of land fruit without anyone noticing. She would persuade the mermaids to cede their starry secrets and hurry back before any stray fairy or curious child found her at the incriminating lagoon.

Gwen reached the wood’s end and hurried down the steps carved into the chalky cliff face. She moved so fast she half-flew toward the slender figures half-submerged in the lagoon.

Gwen had not seen Lasiandra since the night she escaped with Jay from Lake Agana. In the chaos, she had never retrieved the scale from Lasiandra, and thus lost her ability to call her friend. She hadn’t worried about it—until days and weeks passed without sight of her at the lagoon.

“What business have you with Lasiandra?” Eglantine had demanded last time Gwen visited. “What matter is she to you?”

“I’m just worried about her,” Gwen had answered, innocent and truthful. The region’s entire Anomalous Activity Department had been on duty that night, trying to apprehend lost children and capture whatever magic followed them. Lasiandra’s disappearance was ominous, to say the least. A few fairies had not returned from the mission, and there was no question of what fate had befallen them.

In response, the mermaids had only mocked her, contorting their melodic voices into cackling imitations of her land-dwelling accent, “I’m just worried about her.”

“Worried about her! Concerned about a mermaid?” Cynara had declared, insulted and amused. “We are not of such a feeble nature as you landmaids. Mermaids have more strength in a single scale than you have in all of your heart. You need not worry for a mermaid, girl. We can take care of ourselves.”

Gwen had wanted to believe her.

Author Bio:

Audrey Greathouse is a lost child in a perpetual quest for her own post-adolescent Neverland. Originally from Seattle, she earned her English B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University's online program while backpacking around the west coast and pretending to be a student at Stanford. A pianist, circus artist, fire-eater, street mime, swing dancer, and novelist, Audrey wears many hats wherever she is. She has grand hopes for the future which include publishing more books and owning a crockpot. You can find her at audreygreathouse.com

Born in 1102 to King Henry of England and Queen Matilda of Scotland, Matilda's uniquely royal Norman, Saxon, and Scottish heritage was meant to unify an England still divided by her grandfather's conquest in 1066. When the 1120 White Ship Disaster made her the only surviving child of her parents, Matilda suddenly became heiress to the English throne in a time when the old Saxon Witan, not the king's Will, still decided the succession.

Discover the true story of the first woman to claim the throne of England in her own right and be inspired!

Includes Matilda's family tree, a detailed timeline, and a suggested reading list so you can keep learning.

Born in 355 CE in the aftermath of Constantine's reign, Hypatia of Alexandria lived in a collapsing Roman Empire, a world where obedience to religious authorities trumped science, where reason and logic threatened the new world order. It was a world on the edge of the Dark Ages, a world deciding the question of science verses religion, freedom verses orthodoxy, tolerance verses hate.

For over 40 years, Hypatia stood between the dark ages and the light of classical philosophy, arts, and sciences. Though none of her books survived the aggressive book burnings of religious zealots, her legacy remains that of one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska USA Laurel A. Rockefeller is author of over twenty books published and self-published since August, 2012 and in languages ranging from Welsh to Spanish to Chinese and everything in between. A dedicated scholar and biographical historian, Ms. Rockefeller is passionate about education and improving history literacy worldwide.

With her lyrical writing style, Laurel's books are as beautiful to read as they are informative.

In her spare time, Laurel enjoys spending time with her cockatiels, attending living history activities, travelling to historic places in both the United States and United Kingdom, and watching classic motion pictures and classic television series.

One winner each week will receive a sapling tree from the Arbor Day Foundation – trees will vary depending on the winner's region – US only. There will also be two random winners for a special mystery prize- drawn at surprise moments during the tour!

Follow the tour HERE to discover the other amazing Legendary Women of World History books and enter the weekly giveaways!

What would you do if the gateway to ecstasy was literally at your fingertips? Would you lock it up and throw away the key, denying yourself unbelievable carnal desires? Would you stick your toe inside the door, allowing yourself to sample these erotic experiences, but never completely indulging? Or would you barge through the portal to pleasure, leaving all of your inhibitions and dispositions behind in your wake?

This is the dilemma women face when they move into 28 Riverhill Road. Although they can’t explain the unseen sensuality that plagues the house, they also can’t resist its lure.

This collection contains the following erotic stories:

On the Other Side of Lust

Coralee never wanted to be a pastor’s wife…and she certainly never wanted the creepy house her husband inherited from his loyal flock. Yet there she was, alone in a passionless marriage, irritated by the constant demands of the church, and uncomfortable in her own life.

Then he showed up. Coralee wasn’t sure where he came from, but she did know he took her to otherworldly heights of sensuality she could never conjure up even in her wildest fantasies. Was he a ghost? A demon? Or the Devil himself? It didn’t make any difference…as far as Coralee was concerned, he was the very answer to her prayers.

Warning: On the Other Side of Lust (41,900 words) contains closet connections, lascivious lessons, paranormal pleasures, and amorous awakenings.

Through the Doorway of Desire

Although most people believe 28 Riverhill Road is the keeper of not-so-buried secrets they’d just as soon forget, for Clarissa, the old house represents an opportunity for a new life.

That is, until the macabre obsessions set in. When she’s not trying to unearth the mysteries of the house, she’s stoking the flames of a sexual obsession with a notorious serial killer that’s been dominating the news. And when these fixations collide, she’s introduced to a passion unlike anything she’s ever known. Clarissa may be enjoying herself now, but will her ecstasy ultimately lead to agony?

Despite its dubious reputation, Charlotte falls in love with 28 Riverhill Road and believes buying the old house will bring excitement into her life—and help revitalize a relationship that has long gone stale.

And she does find the excitement she’s looking for when the peculiar house introduces her to an alternate life filled with the love and sexual intensity she’s been craving. As she straddles the edge of fantasy and reality, Charlotte eventually finds herself being forced to make an impossible choice.

From the Author:
ADULTS ONLY PLEASE. The Portal is a 109,000 word collection that contains sexually explicit material and adult language. This story is not appropriate for children and may be offensive to some readers.

It seemed that after a while, it became as tired of me teasing it as I had become of it teasing me. I felt movement on Joseph’s side of the bed, and I turned my head to see an indentation in the mattress. That was a first: I had felt it before, but I didn’t see that kind of visual evidence of its existence until that moment. It made my arousal spike to new heights.

Next, my hand was pushed away from my private parts, and a heavy weight rested on top of me. My arms were lifted over my head and felt like they were being pinned down against the bed. My legs were pried open wider and I felt a sharp sensation against my breast that seemed like teeth. I gasped with delight, trying to breathe, but the heavy weight on top of me made it difficult. I just watched in amazement as I felt my nipples being licked and bitten by an imaginary force. It was so real, I saw droplets of liquid forming around my nipples, sparkling in the morning sun.

Then it really happened. I couldn’t make out what was going on, but I felt a large sensation plunging inside my vagina. I was startled at first, then filled with pleasure and desire. I assumed it was my hunky man’s penis because it felt too big to be fingers. But then again, it had been so long since I’d felt anything like that downstairs, it was hard to know for sure.

It started pumping in and out of me. First it was slow and sensual, then it got faster by the moment. The bed shook underneath me. My body shook underneath him. I started to writhe my hips in sync with the motions, but the weight on top of me was too heavy for me to move freely. I felt the palms of my hands slowly being opened and strong fingers interlacing lovingly with mine.

A hot breath warmed up my neck. My body felt like it would explode all over. And then it became more intimate with me.

“Do you like that, Coralee?” I heard it whisper in my ear. I looked around, a little bit alarmed because I never heard it speak before. It had a deep, manly voice that was demanding and yet tender. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I wanted to believe it was real, but on the other hand, I started to go back to thinking this was all just the product of my overactive imagination.

It made sure I didn’t think that way. He made sure that I knew he was real. “You’re not imagining me, Coralee,” it whispered. “I’m real, and I desperately want to make love to you.”

Author Bio:

Where does good sex begin?

Between the ears, of course!

That's why I work hard to write erotica that stimulates the largest sex organ we have--the mind--because when we're titillated upstairs, the nether region is sure to follow.

Want to get hot and horny upstairs and downstairs? Check out my erotic stories.

Junior year’s looking up for sixteen-year old Mike. Her new BFF isn’t a sadistic control freak, her boyfriend adores her, and she’s learning to bike in the mountains without decapitating herself on a tree.

Well, almost.

When she meets a group of riders who welcome her into their pack, she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs. One particular rider—a boy with an amazing smile and an even more amazing ability to see what she’s truly capable of—gives her the confidence to go after what she wants: her own life with her own rules.

There’s only one problem—he’s not her boyfriend.

Just as things seem to be falling into place, her parents put on the pressure to figure out her future—one that doesn’t include riding. Mike soon realizes that having everything isn’t that great when she’s not the one choosing it. She needs to decide if she’s going to continue to be a follower or step out of the shadows and find her own trail.

Interview:If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?I’d love to go back to the late 1840s during the time of the women’s suffrage movement. Women’s rights are very important to me and all my main characters are strong, female role models (even if they take a little while to get there). I think it’d be fascinating to witness those history-changing times.

What is the last thing you googled?“When was the women’s suffrage movement,” lol. I was thinking it was the 1820s, so I’m glad I checked. Clearly I know TONS about that era.

What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?Reading or writing or watching a movie. As a creative person, gloomy days energize my imagination. They make me want to cuddle up inside my brain and I’m far more productive than on nice days, when I want to be outside. I lived in Mexico for a few years and the constant sunlight nearly drove me mad.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?I’m very active and play a ton of sports, most of them with my husband. Things we regularly do: golf, kayak, bike, hike, walk the dog, softball, bowling, ski… plus all kinds of yard and bar games like cornhole (bags), darts, pool, etc. I also like to do DIY projects around the house and go beer and wine tasting.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which of your characters do you want by your side?Hmm… any of my love interests? Cameron from the Flicker series was my first character I loved. Blake from The Slope Rules is a little immature for me (well really, they all are since I write YA), but Mica from The Trail Rules is pretty swoony. He’s outdoorsy so could probably handle the whole find shelter and food thing pretty well, and he’s not too hard on the eyes either.

What is the hardest part of writing?For me, the hardest part of writing is getting started. I love telling stories and letting my imagination take over, but I always feel like I need to do “one more thing” before sitting down to write. I outline extensively and have a set time when I write—every morning before work—so I have very little excuses to not stick to my schedule. Once I push my other obligations out of my mind and acknowledge that this is the time I’m going to write, it comes much more easily.

How long have you been writing?I first started writing in elementary school and that carried into middle and high school—primarily poems, songs, and short stories—but I stopped when I got to college and I didn’t start again until my mid-thirties. Now I’ve written nine full-length manuscripts (one memoir and eight novels) and I have several more planned.

Who or what inspired you to be a writer?Honestly, writing is just something that I’ve always done. I suppose I could say my early teachers, or my early love for reading, but I’ve just always loved telling stories and writing was a way to do that. There is a specific person who I credit for inspiring me to write novels: my former co-worker Matt. I was leaving Chicago to live in Mexico with my (now ex-)husband and Matt said, “now you can write the great American novel.” I don’t know if I’d ever shared my desire to write a novel with him, but that casual comment stuck with me and I started my first novel a year later.

Tell us about your next release.My new release is The Trail Rules, the second book in The Rules Series. It’s about Mike, a 16-year old girl who thought she had it all figured out, but starts to realize that maybe everything she thought she wanted isn’t enough. A lot of the story takes place while she’s mountain biking, and I had a lot of fun exploring the Colorado forests with her.The third book in the series, The Edge Rules, follows the mean girl from the story and comes out in October 2018.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?I adore Cally, Mike’s best friend and the main character in The Slope Rules (the first book in the series), but I think Alex is my favorite. Mike meets her while riding and her no-nonsense attitude and openness to new adventure draws Mike to her. She’s a total [badass] who teaches Mike to challenge herself and not be afraid to go after what she really wants.I’m especially excited about Alex because she’s the main character in a short story that’ll be in a YA contemporary romance anthology that comes out later this year.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you? I’ve have to say Kenzie, one of the Snow Bunnies (mean girls) from the series. She starts off in The Slope Rules as the number two mean girl, but over the course of the series her nastiness shows its true colors and I really don’t like her. She’s basically a combination of the mean people I’ve known in my life, all rolled into one self-absorbed, hurtful girl.

This or That?iPod or Mp3? my iPhoneKids or No Kids? no kids, but I have afurbabyChocolate or Vanilla? chocolateOutline or Pantser? OUTLINEMarried or Not? married <3Pie or Cake? pie (but I love cake)Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream? frozen yogurt (dairy is not my friend)Spring or Fall? fallSoda or Pop? soda (it took 3 years to beat pop out of me)Dogs or Cats? dogsWine or Beer? depends on my mood?Comedy or Drama? dramaIndie or Traditional? indieFantasy or Reality? realityCall or Text? TEXT. What kind of heathen calls people?Coffee or Hot Chocolate? the two mixed together (I’m more of a tea gal)eBook or Paperback? eBook, but I buy paperbacks from my friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Multi-award winning young adult author Melanie Hooyenga first started writing as a teenager and finds she still relates best to that age group. She has lived in Washington DC, Chicago, and Mexico, but has finally settled down in her home state of Michigan. When not at her day job as a Communications Director at a nonprofit, you can find Melanie attempting to wrangle her Miniature Schnauzer Owen and playing every sport imaginable with her husband Jeremy.

Loyalty.Noun. ‘A strong feeling of support or allegiance.’
For some, loyalty can be bought. For others, it’s earned. But the thing about loyalty—it can change in an instant. All it takes is one act, one decision, and loyalty shifts to betrayal in the blink of an eye…a sin which cannot go unpunished.
Not in this world.
But sometimes things happen beyond our control, forcing our allegiances to change. Like the mob enforcer who wants nothing more than to seduce the assassin hired to kill him. Or the FBI agent who falls for the woman whose past holds ties with the mafia.
Yet, no matter the reason or motive, the consequences of betrayal are always deadly.
Because in this world everyone is…
Craving Loyalty

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she's isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll find her sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.

Heidi's first novel, Forever My Girl, will be in theaters on October 27, 2017, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe.

Amy Briggs is a Texas based writer. Formerly a firefighter and EMT in New Jersey living next to a military base, Amy was initially drawn to creating stories around emergency services and the military, and draws on her experiences to show the depth and emotional side of the lifestyle. Her love of fairy tales carries through each of her novels and she hopes to inspire readers to fall in love with love.

Andreas was born a Spartan warrior, long before human history even records Sparta existing. He served directly under Ares, until the day his lover was killed on the battlefield in front of him. On that day, he met his father, the mysterious Black Dragon God known as Jarel. From then on, he served his father faithfully, enforcing the laws of the primordial embodiment of black fire and father of the paranormal. Now, in these modern times, he hunts the rogue vampires and their leader. Little does he know, there's more to this than vampires simply turning against his father.

While protecting the lovely Cassandra Odele, Andreas must battle forces he doesn't know as he attempts to stop the resurrection of the Titan king, Cronus. Added to his problems, he now has two teenage nephews to see into adulthood. Of course, there's always a twist when dealing with the gods, and Andreas will come face to face with his past, leaving him to decide which is more important, his soul or the world?

Victoria Damone is the daughter of the Black Dragon God, Jarel, and the goddess of magic and witchcraft, Hecate. Quick tempered and impatient, she strikes fear into the hearts of the rogue creatures rebelling against her father as well as the warlocks, servants of Prince of Darkness, Lucifer.

Ares, the god of war, is often misunderstood. Known only as a brutal god with an insatiable appetite for blood and destruction, as well as passing flings, the son of Zeus and Hera has spent most of his time defending Olympus from any and every threat.

Now the two meet and must combine forces. The Titan King, Cronus, has been resurrected by Lucifer and is quickly resurrecting his brethren to launch war against Zeus and all that stand with him. Not only this, but he's even joined forces with the legendary beast Typhon, the only creature to ever come close to toppling the Olympian god king. As the gods prepare for an unavoidable war, Victoria must hunt one of the most powerful and cunning warlocks to serve under the Prince of Darkness and simultaneously train her nephew Brandon in her craft. Her pride demands that she do this alone, but Ares is not a god to be denied. Ares clearly has his eyes on Victoria, but can she trust the notoriously wild and unpredictable god's intentions?

Odele, the goddess of Healing, has returned to Olympus, once again the direct servant to Hera, queen of the gods. Yet even after the defeat of Eris, her work is not done. The war of the gods is imminent now, with Cronus restored to life and the Titans back at his side. But before the battle can begin, Odele must find her mortal twin brother, who had been captured by the forces of the vampire Kalos years before. She asks Hera for her brother's whereabouts, and the god queen allows her to attempt to rescue him, but under the condition that she's accompanied by Apollo.

Apollo has waited ages for Odele's return to Olympus to heal the heart he'd broken ages before. The process of healing won't be easy, and Odele's heart is not the only heart to be healed. Both Apollo and Odele's lives are at risk, as they join the god of darkness in a battles against two children of Gaea and Odele's own brothers, Cronus and Typhon. Will Odele's heart be healed, and most importantly, will anyone survive this unique healing process?

The servants of Hecate have been subject to persecution for many years. They have been misunderstood, accused of worshipping the devil. And Hecate has had enough. The Devil, Lucifer, has finally invaded the human world and his true servants, warlocks, are growing bold. Lucifer’s influence has spread throughout the world and nothing is the same as it was before he came. There are those that can counter the power of the warlocks, and Hecate may have found one.

Vax King had just graduated high school when the world changed. And unlike everyone around him, he saw through the lies. The world was trapped in the spell of the father of all evil and he seemed to be the only one in the immediate area that could see it. Then again, he’s a solitary witch and no one else knows it. But he’s shocked when the goddess Hecate appears to him with a quest to gain a weapon to help fight the forces of evil. The weapon is the legendary hammer of the Norse god, Thor, Mjölnir, and if he can find this he can lead the forces of Hecate against their greatest enemy. But to gain it, he must survive the Rose realm and prove his worth. Should he fail, death is all that awaits. Can he prove to the enchanted weapon of the deceased god that he is more worthy of wielding it than the original owner, and therein become the leader of an army of witches ready and waiting to stand against Lucifer?

The heavenly war is coming to a head. The gods are ready. All that remains is the final clash between the most dominate forces of nature in existence.

Brandon has come to a decision. He can't deny who his soul mate is. He's the god of darkness and shadows, and his soul mate is a werewolf, Phil, the grandson of the very first werewolf. But things are never so simple. He has to get past the wolf's insecurities in order to give them both a shot at true happiness

Demun wants to fight against his soul mate. He hates having a predetermined mate. And worse, his mate is the phoenix known to be unable to settle down. Vic, the phoenix in question, wasn't fond of the idea either, but he's been around enough to know that fighting against what your soul requires is pointless. He just needs a chance.

The twins lead complicated lives, as they must not only deal with their soul mates but fight alongside the Dragon Witch, Victoria, to protect their children, the new Moirae. As always, a new threat lies hidden in wait, attempting to create a monster out of god that will change the world for the worst. And it may cost them one of their own.

A king's duty never ends, even when his kingdom changes. Vladimir Dracula is one of the most famous and misunderstood figures in all of history. One thing is true, he is a king, and he is a vampire. He is the true king and enforcer of the vampire race. Feared by all of his own kind, he is perhaps the most lethal of the Black Dragon God's mortal born servants. At the same time, he personifies sex. None can resist his charms, save one.

Vax King is the Chosen of Hecate, the Heir of Mjolnir, and has no plans on a mate. When he's called on to enter Fae lands, he's surprised to find the legendary vampire there. Looking to aid the beautiful Fae, Anaya, and her soul mate, Galen, Vax must enter a world of sex of violence with only Vlad to accompany him. Here, there can be no denial, no hesitation. Only truth....and dominance.

A war is brewing in the Fae lands, as the fallen angels rise to lay claim to the power of their goddess, Verlaine and topple their higher brethren. Older than most, Vlad must accustom himself to having a soul mate, and use all his legendary power to stop the forces of darkness long believed to be controlled by him. A new kingdom is the prize, and none knows better than the famed Dracula that the secret to power lies in the blood.

Drako was born in 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri. He is mainly a fantasy writer, though he also writes some poetry and general fiction. He is very active on both twitter and facebook and has his own website at www.drakosden.net which is frequently updated with news on his books and fun extras. When he isn't writing, he's busy helping take care of his nieces, playing videogames, reading, promoting, and spending time with family.

Braiding nanotechnology and medicine equals magic to the psychopathic mind.

Megan Chauner has achieved her dream of opening a veterinary practice when she receives a mysterious package with a dire warning from a college roommate turned investigative reporter. Entering a world of advanced surgical techniques, polymer microchips, and nanotechnology, she discovers twisted minds merging the latest science with progressive surgical procedures in a bid for power and wealth.

Lucas McAllister faces the biggest upheaval of his life. From chick magnet to wounded cop wasn’t a fall he’d foreseen. Now facing a forced retirement, he returns home to find a gun-toting enigma with multiple IDs deciphering reams of technical, medical jargon and embroiled in a plot destined to alter mankind’s path.

Stalkers and assassins draft reality checks that test Luc’s skill and endurance in keeping Megan and her furball alive while the McAllister brothers unite to thwart a bi-coastal conspiracy.

Prologue

Death in degrees

Jackie Milburn didn’t do fear.

The late-night walk to her car had never provoked an accelerated heartrate. Tonight, however, a bone-deep foreboding arose from vestiges of instinctual awareness, all merging to question her mission’s strategy. If she failed, millions would suffer and life as anyone knew it, would change.

Indistinct shadows granted a cozy ambiance where she often lurked, but dingy light filtering through overhead branches mocked her bravado. Shadow limbs shook with laughter as Fate’s sense of humor colluded with nature to saturate creation’s mindset with malice.

Regardless of Destiny’s intentions, she squared her shoulders while scanning the deserted parking lot, alert to any threat. A sense of relief had washed through her after depositing the damning evidence in the USPS blue box. Always have a backup plan.

This was the biggest scoop of her career, and would spotlight one of Delaware’s billion-dollar companies as hi-tech, sociopathic thugs. The evil shits would never expect an investigative reporter to mail the sophisticated mechanisms. Precautions taken with the dispatch ensured no one could trace the recipient.

It wouldn’t take CSV Pharmaceuticals long to discover crucial evidence missing and then ferret out their traitor. As corporations went, they were as paranoid as any. She prayed Dr. Sorenson made it out of the country alive, and not as shark chum. Paranoia had compelled her to refuse him the number to her newest burner phone. Intuition saw the last one tossed in the Willamette River after tapping out a quick message. She’d always survived by instincts and prayed they served her well—one more time.

Making the last stop to pick up her go-bag would supply the necessary items to disappear until her story broke. Various colored and styled wigs, plain lens glasses, makeup, and diverse fashion ensembles would allow her to blend with any crowd.

Trembling fingers failed to punch the unlock button on her key fob. Instead, her headlights cut a swath through the misty ground cover, a beacon to any waiting goon. Shit. The subsequent knocking of heart against ribs rivaled the best hammer drill while sweat coated her palms and face despite her warmed exhalations sending puffed smoke signals in the frosty air.

A slow, deep breath reclaimed her sense of calm and allowed the subtle scent from emerging camellia blossoms drifting on the night’s currents to settle her spirit. There. This is who I am. For visual affirmation of her feelings, she glanced at her reflection in the driver’s side window.

The sudden thrust of a phantom arm emerged from the dark to pin her against a hard chest.

“Oomph.” After the collision forced air from her lungs, shock produced a gasp which inhaled a sickly sweet odor from the cloth covering her mouth and nose.

The steely limb angled and applied pressure to tilt her head back as if she were a rag doll.

“Wanna play?” Malice drew out each syllable in a parody of innocent sport.

Momentary panic barred all reason. Instinctive reaction initiated clawing at the vicelike grip while subsequent kicking and twisting of her body yielded no compromise in her position.

In her periphery, she caught sight of a malevolent smile and glinting dark eyes under a black fedora. The boogeyman did exist.

Lethargy and disorientation. Another breath or pass out from hypoxia. No more pain. All her muscles relaxed, against her will. The invading blackness closed in from the margins.

Reily is a West Coast girl transplanted to the opposite shore. When she’s not working with her dogs, you can find her curled up with a book or writing her next story. Past employment as an ICU nurse, private investigator, and work in the military police has given her countless experiences in a host of different environments to add a real world feel to her fiction.

Over time, and several careers, many incidents have flavored the plots of her stories. Man’s cruelty and ingenuity for torment and torture is boundless, not contained by an infinite imagination. Witnessing the after-effects of a teenager mugged at knifepoint for a pair of tennis shoes, or an elderly woman stabbed repeatedly with a screwdriver for no apparent reason, left an indelible impression that will forever haunt her subconscious. In counterpoint, she has observed a woman stop her vehicle in severe, snowy weather to offer her own winter coat to a stranger, a teenager wearing a threadbare hoodie. Life’s diversities are endless.

Though her kids are her life, writing is Reily’s life after. The one enjoyed after the kids are in bed or after they’re in school and the house is quiet. This is the time she kicks back with laptop and lapdog to give her imagination free rein.

In reading, take pleasure in a mental pause as you root for your favorite hero/heroine and bask in their accomplishments, then share your opinions of them over a coffee with your best friend (even if he’s four-legged). Life is short. Cherish your time.

Enoch wants to live an ordinary life. He’s content to lie low, skip his college classes, and avoid committing to any one girl. But ordinary isn’t on the syllabus for Enoch because at night, he dreams of demons. Vivid dreams that leave him wanting escape more than ever. When they escape his dreams and attack him during daylight, his reality becomes a nightmare.

As he pieces together the meaning behind the encounters, supernatural creatures emerge. Demons. Vampires. Witches. Angels. And they all want something from him. In a supernatural world he never thought possible, Enoch uncovers a secret that either will destroy him or force him to become much more than he ever wanted.

International Bestselling/Award Winning Author Mary Ting/M. Clarke resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. She also toured with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.